Acer aspire one year of manufacture. Acer Aspire One Netbook Specifications
The Acer Aspire One is an 8.9" netbook with an ideal price/performance ratio, one of the strongest competitors in the entire netbook market. The base model of the Aspire One includes an 8GB SSD and Linux starts at $329, and don't forget the Intel Atom processor. In the review, we will find out all the pros and cons of the Acer Aspire One, and see how attractive it is for the buyer.
Specifications Acer Aspire One:
Design and build
The design of the Acer Aspire One is very organic - with a smooth chassis with rounded edges and a glossy finish, this notebook is a pleasure to hold. The top cover of the netbook is made of glossy plastic, as well as the area around the LCD display. Sometimes in a brightly lit room, the frame around the screen starts to glare, distracting from the screen.
The quality of the material itself is quite good, the netbook seems quite durable and resistant to damage, except for glossy surfaces, on which even small scratches will look quite noticeable. The plastic resists well when you try to compress it or bend it, and the lid and the surface around the screen are made especially strong, which is very important for protecting the fragile LCD panel.
In case you are a fan of laptop upgrades, the Acer Aspire One is not the right model for it. The covers are quite difficult to remove, and access to components like RAM or HDD is not easy. But this step may be justified if you plan to install Vista, which is very "gluttonous" in terms of RAM, or you can install a faster HDD. Another disappointment is the Mini-PCIe slot, which can probably only fit a 3G SIM card, but if you can put something else in there, you're obviously very lucky.
Display
The Acer Aspire One's LED backlit display is very bright and colors look natural and vibrant. This is made possible by the use of a glossy screen, which unfortunately increases reflections and leads to glare. In a room with not very bright lighting, the screen is well readable and contrasting, but outdoors or in a bright room it becomes difficult to read and uncomfortable to view.
The viewing angle is above average. The horizontal viewing angle is very good, in fact, you can look almost perpendicular to the screen and still see true colors. The vertical viewing angle is also good, but the limit of normal quality is +/- 15 degrees up or down from the middle position.
Keyboard and touchpad
The keyboard is as big as the netbook's dimensions allow. All in all, the Aspire One is a 9" netbook in a 10" model. A small drawback of this solution is the large borders around the screen made of plastic, but this made it possible to make the keyboard as comfortable as possible. It's certainly not full-size like regular laptops, so you'll have to practice before getting used to it.
The keyboard itself feels solid and doesn't flex, and the keys don't wobble. The page up and page down buttons got a special arrangement. For scrolling through long web pages, especially with mini-touchpads, the page up and page down keys allow you to more accurately and comfortably, and most importantly, quickly navigate the page.
The design of the touchpad is unique compared to other netbooks and laptops, since the buttons are located not under the touchpad, but to the right and left of it. The only other netbook with a similar touchpad is the HP Mini-Note 2133. The format is a bit odd, so at first there may be situations where you just press the case under the panel and then try to move around the touchpad, but all this will pass with time. The surface responds easily to touch, even with light pressure. If you can get used to the touchpad button layout, the touchpad looks pretty good.
Performance
Of course, with an Intel Atom processor, this netbook will not show record speeds, but for everyday work, especially on the Internet, its power will be enough. Whether it's working with text or editing photos, it will cope with any task perfectly well.System performance results when tested in 3DMark06:
| laptops | Ball 3DMark06 |
| Acer Aspire One (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950) | 122 3D Marks |
| Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950) | 122 3D Marks |
| HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB) | 1,055 3D Marks |
| Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100) | 532 3D Marks |
| HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400) | 827 3D Marks |
Sound
The speakers of the Acer Aspire One did nothing to please. high and low tones are not displayed enough, the sound volume is also "lame", so if you do not have the desire to suffer when watching a movie or listening to music, then it is better to connect headphones. Good quality headphones can solve all of the above problems.Interfaces
The set of interfaces is very diverse, as for netbooks. There is a card reader and a standard set: three USB ports, LAN, VGA and an audio jack. The only thing that raises criticism is the removable additional Mini-PCIe slot, which can be used for subsequent upgrade to a 3G modem.
Front: Wireless On/Off
Rear: Battery
Left: PSU input, VGA, air vents, LAN, one USB, SDHC
Right: headphones/mic, two USBs, multicard reader, Kensington Lock Slot
Heat and noise
Almost all netbooks built on Intel Atom have low heat output, and the Acer Aspire One is no exception. Under normal operating conditions, such as while browsing the Internet, or text documents, or in icq, the temperature is within the allowed range. The temperature on the surface of the keyboard is slightly higher than the temperature in the room, and the bottom of the laptop heats up even more. The photos below show temperatures in different parts of the netbook in degrees Fahrenheit.
Noise sets the Aspire One apart from all netbooks, and not in a good way. As soon as the netbook is turned on, the fan starts to run, and the sound is louder than regular full-sized laptops. When the One is running, it gets hotter and the fan starts to run faster, and the noise from its operation increases, which can even cause displeasure of others, or just get on your nerves.
Battery
With the screen brightness set to 60%, Wi-Fi on, and web browsing, the Acer Aspire One had a battery life of 2 hours and 23 minutes. It is completed with a standard 3-segment battery, Acer plans to release models with a 6-segment additional battery.Widget from SocialMart
Conclusion
For those who are looking for an inexpensive and functional netbook, the Acer Aspire One is a great solution. This laptop has an attractive design and good quality materials and workmanship. Of course, the 3-segment battery life is not the best on the market, but this issue can be solved by purchasing an additional 6-segment battery. Another pro factor is its low cost.pros
- Low price- good performance
- Two card readers
- Good touchpad
Minuses
- Heavy to upgrade- Fan noise
Acer Aspire One netbook review
Acer Aspire One - 9-inch netbook powered by Atom
If you are not already aware, this is a special class of miniature laptops, characterized by low cost and focus on performing the simplest everyday tasks. Netbooks, initially seen as just an affordable and simple product designed to introduce the general public to computer technology, have suddenly become a new fashion trend in the field of mobile technology.netbooks
As it turned out, it was netbooks that users lacked all these years. Yes, a traditional laptop is powerful, functional and productive, suitable for all tasks, without exception, for which we involve personal computers. But it is heavy, bulky and fragile, it needs a special bag or backpack. And a netbook, comparable in size to a small book, easily fits in a briefcase or handbag and does not burden its owner at all. And although its capabilities are modest by today's standards, it is still a full-fledged x86-compatible computer, which, at the same time, costs less than a prestigious cell phone.
The inventor of the netbook class should be considered ASUS, which, with the support of Intel, released the Eee PC model. The mini-computer, even before its birth, became a real hit - a source of genuine interest from users and black envy of competitors who themselves did not think of it or did not believe in the success of the idea. And as soon as it became clear that the product "went", a real boom began - clones, analogues, accessories "in the style of Eee PC", components "for Eee PC", etc.
It should be noted that the appearance of a typical netbook did not emerge immediately, and not all the ideas embodied in the Eee PC turned out to be successful. For example, the screen size of 7 inches, borrowed from inexpensive portable DVD players, turned out to be insufficient for comfortable work, and netbook manufacturers quickly switched to matrices of 9 and 10 inches. Further, replacing the hard drive with a flash drive did not justify itself - the volume that can be equipped with a cheap computer is too small, and the speed increase is almost not noticeable. Therefore, most netbooks today are equipped with traditional hard drives. The power consumption factor turned out to be an important aspect: the netbook's battery is small, and the standard Intel hardware platform on which "real" laptops are installed is not suitable. As soon as Intel released the new Atom processor, featuring a highly simplified microarchitecture but extremely low power consumption of just a couple of watts, manufacturers lined up for a new platform (which eventually led to a serious shortage of components for netbooks).
Only the laziest (or proudest) manufacturer doesn't make netbooks today mobile computers. Most of these devices are built according to the same scheme and differ mainly in design and some parameters, for example, the type and volume of the main drive. Not everyone dared to experiment and search for new forms - the majority granted this right to ASUS as a pioneer. Now ASUS has dozens of netbook models, with different functions and designs, while competitors have one or two proven options without a clear focus on a specific category of users.
Acer was one of the first to take on netbooks. Her netbook Aspire One did not become the object of experiments - in appearance and hardware stuffing, it resembles the second-generation ASUS models.
Nevertheless, the Acer netbook immediately attracted the attention of potential buyers who are well aware of how this company can produce fairly reliable and high-quality machines at a very affordable price. And the price for a netbook is perhaps the most important parameter that distinguishes it from a classic subnotebook. In our review, we'll take a look at one of the most compelling variants of the Aspire One, the one that comes with a standard 120GB hard drive.
The model produced by Acer is conceptually no different from most other netbooks. It's a cheap sub-laptop with a small screen for simple entertainment and internet access. It is built on the new Intel mobile platform, optimized just for this class of computers. The platform is based on an economical but low-performance Intel Atom N270 processor with a frequency of 1.6 GHz, and a relatively old integrated 945 series chipset containing an Intel GMA 950 graphics core with DirectX 9 support (pixel shaders in hardware, vertex shaders in software). The netbook can be equipped with a low-capacity flash memory SSD (8 GB) or a full-fledged 2.5-inch hard drive. large "laptops (hence, it is easy to replace it with a more capacious one). optical drive netbook does not, to support disks you will need to connect an external device with a USB interface (not included).
The netbook is necessarily equipped with wired and wireless network controllers. The Aspire One has a simple Realtek network codec with no gigabit support and an 802.11b/g wireless card from a reputable manufacturer. The Bluetooth radio interface module is provided by design, but may not be installed. There is also space for a GSM/UMTS modem, but it is not included as standard.
The set of ports on the netbook is cut down, but the presence of three USB, two audio and a monitor output is a must.
Perhaps the most important hardware difference between the Acer netbook and its analogues is the presence of two card readers at once. The first is multi-format, designed for SD, MS, xD, MMC cards and their variants. And the second one is supposed to be used to increase the amount of disk space by installing a capacious SDHC card (they are the cheapest among analogues). For a netbook with an 8 GB flash drive, this solution seems to be very successful, since there is a prospect of easily increasing the disk space by 16 or even 32 GB. A netbook with a hard drive does not seem to need a second slot. However, keep in mind that in the absence of an ExpressCard slot, you can add a non-standard device only through a slot with an SDIO interface, and the Aspire One just has one.
The netbook battery has a reduced capacity for weight and size reasons (at least half the size of a typical “full” laptop battery), but due to the exceptional efficiency of the Atom processor, its charge should be enough for several hours of work without an outlet. How long the Aspire One "holds" without recharging, we will find out a little later.
Yes, the Acer netbook has its own unique design, but in fairness it should be noted that there is still some similarity with the ancestor of the netbook class, ASUS Eee PC. But the Aspire One netbook is not similar to other laptops from Acer - neither in the contours of the case, nor in the materials, nor in the details of design or finish.
So, design. The outer part of the top cover, as well as the surface around the keyboard, are made of a characteristic milky-white plastic with a mother-of-pearl texture, smooth and hard to the touch. The keyboard is also white, but matte and slightly rough, the sides and bottom of the case have the same texture.
The inner surface of the lid of the Aspire One is made of glossy black plastic, which not only visually enlarges the screen, but also creates an interesting contrast transition that enlivens the design of the netbook. (However, now not only the "mirror" matrix is glaring, but also its background, which can cause serious inconvenience when working).
Acer offers not only all-white Aspire One netbooks, but also variants of others colors- blue, pink and chocolate. They have painted all surfaces, only the inside of the lid remains black.
Screen netbook is an 8.9-inch LCD matrix with a resolution of 1024x600, released by the Taiwanese manufacturer AU Optronics.
Information about the use of LED backlighting is indirectly refuted by the fact that a sticker on the underside of the case contains a warning about the presence of mercury in backlight lamps. This does not have the best effect on image quality and power consumption. In addition, as is often the case with netbooks, the matrix has excessive brightness - only the minimum level can be used to work with documents. However, since the netbook is focused more on viewing photos and videos than on text and business graphics, this cannot be considered a serious drawback. But in general, the quality of the matrix, of course, is not high: the viewing angles are small, especially vertical, the contrast is rather weak, the color reproduction is so-so, the color temperature is too high (the picture gives off blue), etc.
Lid Acer netbook does not have a latch; the cut bottom edges make it easy to lift, and the clear hinge keeps it securely open. Embedded in its upper edge Webcam with microphone. The cover is attached on two large hinges to a cylindrical ledge that hides the battery underneath.
The cylinder has four LED(battery, hard drive, numlock, capslock), which are clearly visible even when the lid is closed.
At the ends of the cylinder there are decorative silver "screw heads" with glossy red rims. In fact, this design element is not supported by anything else in the design, and therefore it seems superfluous.
reduced keyboard- the traditional weak point of a miniature computer. It should be noted that Acer developers have successfully dealt with this problem.
The key pitch is really smaller than usual - 17 mm (for standard laptops - 19 mm), the height and depth of the stroke are also reduced. However, the button mechanism is quite elastic, the buttons do not have a strong backlash and do not rattle. The layout is also successful - only the rightmost row was reduced, from which two buttons were made (combined PgUp / Home and PgDn / End) and placed in the area of cursor buttons. In general, one can get used to such a keyboard relatively easily, and after a very short time one does not notice its features.
The top row of buttons is marked with symbols of "hot" combinations. Their set is typical for Acer: calling proprietary utilities, switching to Standby, turning off the screen backlight, touchpad and sound. The laptop does not have separate "quick start" buttons, as well as multimedia playback control is not provided. On the right side of the leading edge, wedge-shaped and rather sharp, is a wireless antenna shutter button with two indicators, which is shared by Bluetooth and WiFi controllers.
The place for her was chosen very well.
touchpad Acer netbook has a normal size and an unconventional layout - the mouse buttons are located on the sides.
This decision seemed to us very successful, since the touchpad buttons on the same Eee PC cause a lot of inconvenience. Although many users, judging by the reviews, are not happy with this solution.
Built-in speakers are located under the leading edge. Their quality, of course, is far from perfect, and the audio codec (2-channel Realtek ALC268) is very simple and has no special features.
I/O ports located on the sides of the laptop case.
On the right we find two audio jacks (external microphone and speakers/headphones), two USBs and a universal card slot for most formats.
On the left, there is a VGA output, a power outlet, a power adapter input, and an SDHC card slot.
We finish the description of design and ergonomics according to tradition temperature regime . Alas, on this point, Aspire One, like most of its classmates, loses a lot to "full-fledged" laptops. The noise of a small built-in fan may not be audible in an office or classroom, but in a quiet home environment, it is particularly annoying with its monotonous buzzing. Even when typing, the fan noise is quite annoying (it's not loud, but it's very unpleasant to hear). At the same time, the surface of the keyboard remains noticeably warm, especially the near right panel, although the bottom, fortunately, warms up to a lesser extent. Unfortunately, this is a problem for all laptops with a small internal displacement - it is not possible to remove all excess heat due to air currents.
All netbooks based on the Intel platform, and the vast majority of them, are equipped with the same processor (Intel does not yet offer others). Therefore, it does not make much sense to look for a difference in the performance of netbooks from different manufacturers - only the type of the main storage device (hard drive or SSD) can really affect it. Therefore, we will try to compare the performance of the Acer netbook with the most affordable and simple classic budget laptops built on the Intel platform and equipped with Celeron M processors. As such, we chose two not very recent models:
Acer equips Aspire One models with a hard drive with a special version of Windows XP Home (for netbooks), and models with a flash drive with Linux (apparently, it is less demanding on disk space). Therefore, we conducted all tests in the Windows XP SP2 Home environment, using the old versions of the BAPCo tests - SYSMark 2004 and MobileMark 2005.
Performance. It would seem that the Atom processor has a clear advantage over the Celeron M - it supports HyperTreading and provides parallel processing of two command streams. However, let's not forget that its architecture is greatly simplified to reduce power consumption.
As a result, we observe a significant, at least a third, lag behind the Acer TravelMate laptop, built on a similar platform. In a number of tests, the netbook loses to its "older friend" by half! Even a Fujitsu Siemens laptop, one of the slowest we've tested in the last year, easily outperforms the Acer Aspire One. The situation improves slightly if the netbook is connected to the mains and set the power consumption mode to "Always On" in the Windows settings (the dynamic frequency reduction system does not work):
Energy consumption Acer netbook in the MobileMark 2005 test is about 8.6 W, which is 2-3 times lower than that of standard notebooks of the minimum cost. If instead hard drive in this model there was an SSD, this figure would be lower by a couple of watts. However, due to the low battery capacity, the Aspire One netbook still works autonomously for no more than 3 hours, which is unlikely to suit all potential owners of this computer.
But comparable entry-level laptops run even slower, even though they have larger batteries.
Although technically all netbooks are identical in configuration (with the exception of the hard drive), there are significant differences that are rarely reflected in dry official numbers. In particular, the Acer Aspire One model, which is considered one of the most affordable netbooks on the market, also has its own characteristics. We liked the workmanship and assembly quality, comfortable keyboard with 17 mm key spacing, touchpad side buttons, interesting lid design. A significant plus for a configuration with a flash drive will be the presence of a second card reader. The disadvantages of this netbook include, first of all, the unpleasant noise emitted by the fan, as well as a short battery life.
The cost of an Acer Aspire One laptop with a hard drive is $520-700, depending on the form of delivery
- high-quality assembly, pleasant materials;
- clear lid hinge;
- acceptable keyboard with a familiar layout;
- the presence of a hard drive of a standard form factor;
- two card readers;
- interesting color options.
- unpleasant noise;
- heating of the case in the keyboard area;
- not the highest quality LCD matrix;
- short battery life (less than 3 hours).
(based on materials from the site GIGAMARK.COM)
In 2008, many of the largest IT companies managed to mark themselves with netbooks. Of course, ASUS succeeded most of all as the initiator of the whole movement. The Eee PC 900 and Eee PC 1000, as well as several of their modifications, left its stocks. MSI Wind U100 netbooks have become quite popular. Now the Taiwanese company is about to release the U120. Distinguished manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Fujitsu and a few more. But, unfortunately, only ASUS, MSI and Acer products have reached our shelves so far.
Acer Aspire One is one of the youngest netbooks on the market. However, his start was very rapid. First, it immediately became available in several configurations. And secondly, its price is on average slightly lower than that of analogues. By and large, the Acer netbook is something like a mixture of the ASUS Eee PC 901, 1000 and 1000H, and at the same time the MSI Wind U100. Aspire One is available with both Windows XP and Linux. Well, either a small SSD or HDD can be used as a permanent data storage. But we'll talk about the configuration later. Let's take a look at the design.
Design
Appearance Acer Aspire One is very attractive. Acer, like MSI, supplies netbooks in four different colors: dark blue, light gray, pink and brown. We got the first one.
Acer continues to rapidly conquer the world with its devices. New gadgets are becoming more productive and find their admirers. The Aspire One series has proven to be thin, light and reliable for work and play. The compactness of the devices of this series allows you to use them in any available place - on vacation, on a business trip or travel. One of the brightest representatives of the series - the Acer Aspire One D257 netbook - embodies all the characteristic performance of the line, coupled with compactness and mobility.
Appearance
Acer offers four color solutions for the netbook. The device can be made in red, white, black or blue. The body of the netbook is made of plastic, but assembled with high quality. At the first meeting, users did not notice any defects and extraneous squeaks.
On the lid of the netbook there is a signature relief of the Aspire One series in the form of waves radiating in circles from a fallen drop. Its thickness when folded is about 2 cm, which is a good indicator of compactness for this kind of device. True, this design feature resulted in the rejection of a standard CD-ROM drive.
Input and output devices
For the output of information in the netbook Acer Aspire One D257 responsible widescreen CrystalBrite. Screen backlight technology - LED. A diagonal of 10.1 inches with a resolution of 1024 by 600 allows you to comfortably browse the Internet, work with office programs or even watch videos.
The keyboard of the model is designed in such a way as to accommodate all the necessary keys as much as possible and create a comfortable working environment for the user. The buttons on the netbook are quite large, but after switching from a regular home PC keyboard, you still have to get used to its keys.
The touchpad of the device is standard, has good sensitivity. There are two hidden keys. To use them, a soft and smooth pressing is enough.
In general, the ergonomics of the device are on top. You can work comfortably even for a long time. At the same time, neither hands nor eyes get tired from work.
Performance
For its size netbook Acer Aspire One D257 has good performance. The entire computing load is taken over by the Intel Atom N570 processor with a clock frequency of 1660 MHz. It is enough for such loads as office applications, surfing the Internet and simple games.
The Acer Aspire One D257, which has 1 GB of RAM, can run multiple light office applications at the same time. To store information and install the system, the device has a 250 GB hard disk. This should be enough to install Windows 7, Windows 10 or one of the popular Linux distributions on the Acer Aspire One D257.
The screen of the device is equipped with a 10-inch matrix. On it you can watch movies, videos without any inconvenience, as well as comfortably read.
The Intel GMA 3150 graphics card is responsible for drawing and displaying graphics. The declared amount of RAM is 256 MB. However, the architecture of the video processor is such that it will not allow you to run resource-intensive tasks like modern games or high-resolution videos. But for solving everyday tasks, the power of this card will be enough.
Acer Aspire One D257: peripheral specifications
It is worth noting that there is no CD-ROM drive in the standard configuration. Operating systems can be installed from external devices, such as flash drives. You also need to know that many netbook configurations are equipped with free version linux.
Security wireless communication achieved through the use of the Wi-Fi module. When finding the nearest point, the netbook can easily access the Internet in a few clicks. If the user wishes, he can use the classic method of connecting to the Internet through the RJ-45 connector, which gives a maximum bandwidth of 100 Mbps.
Expansion of the main screen and data output to an additional larger screen occurs by connecting an external monitor to the VGA port, which the developers have carefully placed on the netbook case.
Video communication is available thanks to the built-in camera and speakers. The camera is built into the lid in such a way that it is convenient to communicate with friends and family online.
Separately, it is worth talking about the autonomy of the Acer Aspire One D257 netbook, the characteristics of which were up to par here. It is equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 4400 mAh. This stock is more than enough for continuous operation for 3-4 hours.
Scope of use netbook Acer Aspire One D257
The device will be appreciated by people working on the go and constantly moving from place to place. The compact size will allow you to work anywhere, be it a cafe, train, plane or car. Bloggers, writers, freelancers, journalists - all these professions will find positive aspects in working with a netbook.
However, do not forget about home use. Those who do not particularly care about the screen diagonal will be able to easily replace their netbook home computer. But if the diagonal is no longer enough, then you can always connect an external monitor to the device. This is especially true for watching movies, showing presentations or photographs.
Children can use the computer for learning, searching for answers to their questions on the World Wide Web. The power of the netbook, of course, is not enough to run high-performance games, which can protect the child from them and force them to do only study and useful work.
conclusions
Acer, as always, was able to please with a solid, high-quality development. The excellent ratio of performance and compactness was adequately received by the IT audience and ordinary users. The level of autonomy is simply incredible, and it is unlikely that anyone will succeed in repeating such success for such money.
Some Acer Aspire One D257 models are equipped with different types and sizes of batteries, so you need to pay special attention to this when buying. The longest duration of work obtained during the reviews reached 8 hours, which cannot but impress.
A variety of colors will allow you to choose a netbook to your liking, which will please the eye and inspire you to accomplish every time you work. Compactness will allow the device to always be within reach. It won't take up much space on your desk or in your travel bag.
After the Centrino platform took over the mass market, it might seem that in terms of configuration, all modern laptops are twin brothers. Although there are always some differences, of course (the most important is the size of the LCD screen), but in general, even laptops of different classes offered the user approximately the same set of features. Plus or minus an additional graphics controller, plus or minus a TV tuner and a webcam. But with the advent of netbooks, it became clear what a really close configuration is - almost all netbooks on the market have such a similar filling that you can often not even look at the table of technical characteristics of the new model. And although the performance of different models is not the same, but as our previous tests showed, by and large, only the speed of the ROM matters - the rest of the subsystems are completely identical. And who among the users will pay attention to the 10-15% difference in certain tests and will understand its causes? After all, netbooks are aimed at the mass user and are positioned on the verge of consumer electronics, in close proximity to communicators, e-readers and other similar devices. In other words, the majority of netbook buyers are not the kind of people who would make a purchase decision based on percentage advantage in performance tests. Here, completely different factors matter (and reviews on our tests of netbooks confirm this) - the mass of the device, battery life, reliability. We dare to add design to this series. First, when choosing among almost identical devices in terms of technical characteristics, the user will inevitably give preference to the model with the best design. In the end, any high-tech "toy" also has an image function. Secondly, the proportion of the fair sex among netbook users is obviously higher than among users of full-sized laptops. No wonder some manufacturers focus on white models, moreover, even pink netbooks are on the market! However, until recently, all netbook manufacturers tried to make their devices as accessible and inexpensive as possible. The first netbooks were created as part of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) concept, which limited the cost of a netbook to $100-$200. Accordingly, it was not necessary to require special design refinements from them. After all, the development of a bright style, and, most importantly, the high-quality materials necessary for its implementation - all this increases the final cost of a netbook.
Aspire One developers have clearly focused on the design of the model
However, there are models whose developers have focused on design. One of them, Acer's Aspire One, visited our lab. What advantages, besides an interesting design, can this model offer to the user?
Contents of delivery
The keys next to it will help you evaluate the compactness of the Aspire One box.
The look of the Acer Aspire One makes an impression even before the netbook is taken out of the box. This model comes in a brightly colored miniature cardboard box that is smaller than any of the competition - perfect for retail.
The package includes a branded case
However, the compactness of the package in this case does not mean a bad package, in addition to the netbook itself, the user will find in the box:
- battery,
- carrying case,
- OS recovery CD
- detailed user manual,
- power supply and power cord
Specifications
| EeePC901 | Acer Aspire One | |
| CPU | Intel Atom N270, 1.6 GHz | Intel Atom N270, 1.6 GHz |
| Chipset | Intel 945GU+ICH7-M | Intel 945GSE+ICH7-M |
| Graphics controller | Intel GMA 950 | Intel GMA 950 |
| Screen | 8.9 inch, 1024x600 | 8.9 inch, 1024x600 |
| RAM | 1024 MB; DDR2-667 | 512 MB DDR2-533 |
| HDD | SSD, 4 GB + 16 GB | SSD, 8 GB |
| Flash card slot | SD/SDHC/MMC | SD, SD/SDHC/MMC/MS/xD |
| Interfaces | 3x USB 2.0& 1x RJ45& 1x VGA (D-Sub) |
3x USB 2.0& 1x RJ45& 1x VGA (D-Sub) |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/Draft-n | Atheros AR5007EG (Acer InviLink) |
| Bluetooth | + | - |
| Network adapter | 10/100 Mbps (Atheros) | 10/100 Mbps (Realtek RTL8102E) |
| Sound | Realtek High Definition Audio | Realtek High Definition Audio (ALC268) |
| Additionally | Webcam 1.3 MP | Webcam 0.3 MP |
| Key pitch, mm | 15,5 | 17,5 |
| Battery | LiIon, 48.8 Wh | LiIon, 26.6 Wh |
| Size, mm | 225x176x39 | 249x170x29 |
| Weight, kg | 1,1 | 1 |
| Retail price, rub. | 16 000 | 13 660 |
| Operating system | Linux (Xandros) or Windows XP | Linux (linpus) |
| Manufacturer's official warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
Like most modern netbooks, Acer Aspire One is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Atom N270
The configuration of the Acer Aspire One confirms the words with which this article began - the design and filling of all netbooks are very similar, and the list of differences is much shorter than the list of identical elements. Like most modern netbooks, the Acer Aspire One is based on a motherboard with mobile version set Intel chips 945 series - 945GSE. The Intel Atom N270 processor with a clock speed of 1.6 GHz is paired with 533 MHz DDR2 memory (one module is installed in the laptop). It is noteworthy that the Aspire One does not provide hatches for access to replaceable components - to upgrade the netbook, the bottom panel will have to be dismantled completely.
GMA 950 graphics core built into the chipset
The graphics core - Intel GMA 950 - is built into the "north bridge" and reserves part of the system memory for video RAM. The netbook's 8.9-inch LCD display and 1024x600 resolution are also familiar features, although more manufacturers are announcing larger screen sizes. But, unlike most competitors, Aspire One boasts a glossy screen finish that visually improves image clarity. However, not all users will like it, because the glossy finish glares and gets dirty easily. A 0.3-megapixel webcam is built into the screen frame. The only 8 GB SSD with ATA66 interface is used as ROM - the capacity is modest by today's standards. Apparently, the developers understood this very well, since the Aspire One is equipped with two memory card slots at once. One of them is only compatible with SD/MMC and should be used as an additional drive according to the creators' intention. The second allows you to work with SD / MMC cards, Memory Stick (including Pro) and xD. The communication controllers are a Realtek RTL8102E 10/100 Mbps adapter and an Atheros AR5007EG wireless module, which is listed as Acer InviLink in the manufacturer's specifications. But, despite the brand name, its characteristics cannot be called outstanding - it is only compatible with 802.11b / g, and does not support the faster 802.11n standard. And the saddest shortcoming is the lack of a Bluetooth module in the Aspire One configuration, because most of the competitors are already blue-toothed.
However, it should be noted here that most users connect GPRS or 3G modems via Bluetooth, and in the future Aspire One will get a built-in modem for 3G networks - this has been officially announced. There is already a slot for SIM cards - it is located under the battery, which will have to be removed to install the SIM card. However, there is no doubt that along with the 3G modem, the new Aspire One models will also have a Bluetooth module - after all, most competitors have it and the gap needs to be made up.
The package includes a miniature three-cell battery
The capacity of the included battery is 26.6 Wh
The package includes a compact three-cell battery with a capacity of 26.6 Wh. For an additional fee, the manufacturer also offers a six-cell version of the battery, according to the manufacturer, such batteries will soon appear in Russian retail. It should be noted that the dimensions of the six-cell model of the battery, of course, are larger - it noticeably protrudes beyond the dimensions of the netbook and with such a battery it will not fit in a branded case. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Aspire One configuration is the presence of active cooling. A miniature fan is built into the netbook, hidden under a round ledge located closer to the center of the bottom panel. The noise level of this fan is very low, even in a quiet room you have to strain your ears to hear the sound of its work. At the same time, it provides a relatively low level of heating - Aspire One is noticeably "cooler" than many competitors. Summing up the description of the configuration, it should be noted that the AOA110-A modification was provided for testing. On the Russian market, Acer also offers the 150th modification (AOA150-B), the main difference of which is that a 120 GB hard drive (Serial ATA interface, 5400 rpm) is used instead of an SSD.
Design and ergonomics
The glossy surface of the lid is adorned with the Acer logo
Of course, there are no comrades for taste and color, but, according to the author, Aspire One is the most beautiful netbook presented in Russian retail at the present time. The glossy case with mother-of-pearl shimmer can be white or dark blue - it is obvious that white models are intended for the fair sex, and men will like the blue version more. As you can easily guess from the photos, a blue netbook visited our laboratory, let's describe the design in more detail using its example. The lower part of the case is made of ordinary black plastic, while the upper part and the lid are made of blue lacquered plastic. Unfortunately, the glossy surface of the lid and screen is very quickly covered with fingerprints, but this is perhaps its only drawback.
Lid hinges are decorated with red metal rings
LED indicators are visible both when the lid is open and closed
The hinges of the lid are adorned with red metal rings, and a few other highlights are the silver Acer and Aspire One logos on the lid and hinges. On the left side of the hinges there are four LED indicators that are visible both when the lid is open and when the lid is closed.
The light of the LED built into the power button does not irritate in the dark
A green LED window is built into the silver power button - its light is soft and dim, it does not irritate at all in the dark. On the front edge of the operating panel there is a silver insert, on the sides of which there are LED indicators that display the operating mode of communication devices.
The netbook is compact and, most importantly, very light (compared to competitors) - exactly 1 kg. This is partly due to the active cooling system - it does not need a bulky and heavy radiator. The location of the I / O ports is well thought out, it is very convenient to use them. On the right side panel there are two USB ports, 3.5 mm audio jacks for microphone and headphones, the main slot for memory cards and an eye for a Kensington lock.
On the left side panel there is a connector for the power supply, as well as an analog VGA connector, an RJ-45 network, a third USB port and an additional slot for SD / MMC memory cards. There are no ports and connectors on the front and back (the only exception is the wireless module slide switch on the right side of the front panel) - this is reasonable for a model that the user will often work with while holding the case on his knees.
Keyboard
As a rule, it is the keyboard that becomes one of the weakest points of the netbook. Models with a screen diagonal of up to nine inches are equipped with small and uncomfortable keyboards. And netbooks equipped with 10-inch displays, with slightly less cramped keyboards, are considered by some users to be too bulky and expensive for this type of device. But the developers of Acer found a happy medium and managed to offer a compact netbook with a comfortable keyboard. First of all, Aspire One is equipped with a keyboard with a 17.5 mm pitch of alphabetic keys - previously only ASUS 1000 series netbooks could boast of such. At first glance, two millimeters (most netbooks have keyboards with 15.5 mm pitch) seems insignificant, but in practice the difference is more than noticeable. After all, the size of 17.5 mm alphabetic keys is much closer to full-sized laptops (they usually have a key pitch of 18 mm) and typing is much more convenient, respectively.The key pitch is 17.5 mm and the “arrows” are placed in a separate block
In addition, the Aspire One keyboard is distinguished by the “arrows” placed in a separate block, full-sized and well-placed other function keys. Only the key has a not too large width - the same as that of the alphabetic keys.
The manipulator buttons are located on the sides of the touch panel
The wide touchpad of the netbook also seemed convenient to us. The manipulator buttons are located on the sides of it, and not under it, as usual. This option is more convenient, since there is no risk of touching the touchpad with the middle or ring finger by pressing the button with the index finger.
Linpus
We have already mentioned the 150th modification of Aspire One presented on the market. In addition to the type of drive, it has another important difference - operating system Windows XP. After all, on the 110th model, including the copy we tested, Linpus OS is installed - a specialized version of GNU / Linux prepared by Acer engineers, which has a simplified interface and all the necessary drivers.Are the Aspire One creators trying to emphasize the high quality of the LCD display?
The owner of Aspire One has the opportunity to feel like the head of the Energy Center
The system interface for netbooks supplied to the Russian market is completely Russified. It is really extremely simple - even the most inexperienced users can easily handle the netbook. Unless they get confused in the translation - the main items and sections of the menu are translated quite correctly, but in depth dialog boxes you can find sayings such as "Enable power management for a specific monitor." However, the main menus can please, for example, "Energocenter".
But on almost all interface pages there is a search box that allows you to search for both local documents and send a request search engines on the Internet - both are very convenient. But, nevertheless, for any experienced user, the capabilities of Linpus will not be enough, and the interface will seem too limited. Although, at first glance, everything you need is available, with prolonged use, you will definitely find the absence of the necessary codecs and some programs. Updating Linpus on your own is troublesome even for a person familiar with Linux. So if you are willing to take the time to set up drivers, it is better to install a full-fledged Linux, and if not, Windows XP.
Tests
| ASUS eeePC 901 (4 GB SSD) |
ASUS eeePC 1000 (8 GB SSD) |
Acer Aspire One | |
| MobileMark05 Productivity score | 70* | 127 | 71 |
| PCMark05 score | 1212 (1077*) | 1213 | ND |
| PCMark05 CPU score | 1398 (1448*) | 1444 | 1443 |
| PCMark05 Memory score | 1902 (1901*) | 1908 | 1863 |
| PCMark05 Graphics, score | 458 (455*) | 436 | ND |
| PCMark05 HDD score | 1604 (908*) | 1927 | 812 |
| 3Dmark01, score | 2728 (2772*) | 2867 | 2955 |
| 3Dmark03, score | 710 (706*) | 693 | 698 |
| HDTune, Average Read, Mb/s | 29,3 (26,4*) | 29,3 | 24 |
| HDTune, Access Time, ms | 0,5 (0,5) | 0,5 | 0,8 |
| MobileMark05 Productivity, h:min | 4:22* | 4:32 | 3:18 |
| MobileMark05 Reader, hour:min | 4:27* | 4:41 | 3:36 |
| Battery Eater Pro 2.60 Classic, h:min | 3:32 | 3:28 | 2:03 |
* when testing, a 16 GB drive was used. Other netbook models, in comparison with the Aspire One, are "terrible in appearance", but they are noticeably "kinder inside" - they have a more successful configuration. However, the expected dip in the performance of the memory subsystem did not manifest itself - the gap between DDR2-533 and DDR2-667 on test tasks is minimal.
Built-in SSD performs slower than the competition
But in terms of speed, the Aspire One SSD is noticeably inferior to competitors' models, and this affects the results of other tests. Unfortunately, the PCMark05 test package passed with constant failures and it was not possible to find the cause during testing.
But from the MobileMark05 Productivity result, you can see that the Aspire One's performance is almost equal to the eee PC 901's performance when tested on the slower of its two drives (marked with an asterisk). It can be assumed that the results of the Aspire One on those tests that it failed will also be close to the values marked with an asterisk. And these values are generally less than the maximum performance of the eee PC 901. The eee PC 1000 models of the Aspire One netbook lose even more noticeably.
The battery of the Acer Aspire One in the Battery Eater Pro 2.60 test lasts for two hours
Acer Aspire One battery also takes two hours to fully recharge
However, as noted above, hardly many buyers of netbooks are seriously concerned about their performance and compare the performance of individual subsystems. There is enough power for browsing web pages, reading mail and working Skype and ICQ - and that's enough. But battery life is important for any user, and here Aspire One, alas, again lags behind competitors. At maximum load (Battery Eater Pro 2.60 Classic), battery life was just over two hours. When working in the mode of simulating normal office work (MobileMark05 Productivity), the battery lasted for three and a quarter hours, and in the most gentle mode (MobileMark05 Reader) - for three and a half hours. Not bad results for a regular laptop, but not enough for a netbook with a 9-inch screen, LED-backlit screen and an economical SSD drive.
Performance of built-in SD/MMC adapter used as additional storage
In addition, using the HD Tune program, we measured the read speed of the memory card adapter, which the developers recommend using as an additional drive. To do this, we installed a 1 GB Apacer MMC Plus 290X card in the memory card slot (the maximum data transfer rate is 43.5 Mb / s). The performance of the adapter was only marginally slower than that of the built-in SSD, so given the large capacity SD cards on the market, it's really worth using to expand your permanent storage.
conclusions
Let's sum up the testing of the Acer Aspire One netbook.- Minuses: relatively low performance and average battery life
- Pros: excellent design, low weight and compactness, excellent keyboard, thoughtful ergonomics
